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Thomas Jefferson
Memorial
Washington DC
" I have
sworn upon
the altar
of God
eternal hostility
against
every form
of tyranny
over the mind
of man."
These words of Thomas Jefferson now inscribed in this memorial to him might be called the heart of his political and social
thinking. His opposition to tyranny in all its forms was repeatedly voiced. In the Declaration it appears in his famous
phrase "that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. . . ."
Jefferson, a delegate to the Continental Congress was chosen
by his colleagues to draft the Declaration of Independence.
At age 33, he was younger than many of his fellow delegates,
but they readily put their trust in his ability to draft the Declaration, which expressed their resolve to form a new nation.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 2,
1776, and signed on July 4.
Jefferson's role in the Nation's history continued when in
1784 he joined Benjamin Franklin and John Adams in
France to negotiate treaties with the European powers. Upon
Jefferson's return to the United States in 1789, he became
secretary of state in the cabinet of George Washington. In
the Adams administration, Jefferson served as vice president,
and he became President himself in 1801. He served two
terms and left office in 1809. During his administration the
Nation doubled its size with his purchase of the Louisiana
Territory.
After his presidency, he returned to his beloved home,
Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia. In his later years
he founded the University of Virginia, watching the progress
of construction from his mountaintop home. The university
opened to students in 1825, just one year before his death on
July 4, 1826.
The Memorial Site
The reflections of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, seen along
the south banks of Washington's Tidal Basin, enhance its
beauty. However, the selection of this site was influenced by
factors of far greater significance than the purely esthetic.
The importance of Jefferson as one of the great figures in the
Nation's history demanded a memorial site of prominence in
the central plan of the Capital City and in relation to the
other great memorials already built. The Capitol, the White
House, and the Mall were located in accordance with the
famous L'Enfant plan. These, together with the erection of
the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the
west axis of the Capitol, long ago established the cardinal
points of the city's plan. The lone remaining site in this crosslike scheme was the one selected for the Jefferson Memorial
south of the Tidal Basin on a line with the south axis of the
White House.
As a visitor to the Nation's Capital, you can sense the meaning of this arrangement when standing in the center of the
group at the memorial to George Washington. The Capitol
is to the east. To the north is the White House. The Lincoln
Memorial to the west, and the Jefferson Memorial to the
south are the other great national memorials.
The Memorial Building
Jefferson was a multisided genius who applied his vast knowledge to many practical fields. He was particularly talented
as an architect, as illustrated by the design of the Virginia
State Capitol. His admiration for the circular-domed Pantheon in Rome was well known. His designs for the rotunda
at the University of Virginia and his famous home, Monticello, further indicate his preference for this type of building.
In the preparation of the plan for the memorial the architects
were clearly influenced by Jefferson's own taste as expressed
in his writings and demonstrated by these works. Thus, the
circular colonnaded structure is an adaptation of the classic
style which Jefferson himself is credited with having introduced into this country. It reflects a measure of the respect
held by the Nation for this great American.
The entrance to the memorial is on the north, or Tidal Basin
side. As you pass from the plaza up the steps toward the
memorial room you may view at close range the sculpture
group above the entranceway. It depicts Jefferson standing
before the committee appointed by the Continental Congress
to write the Declaration of Independence. To the left of
Jefferson, as viewed from the steps, are Benjamin Franklin
and John Adams. Seated on his right are Roger Sherman and
Robert R. Livingston. Adolph A. Weinman, a sculptor of
New York City, was selected by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission to do this work.
The domed interior of the memorial is dominated by the
statue of Thomas Jefferson. Rudulph Evans of New York
City was chosen from more than one hundred other sculptors
who were considered in a nationwide competition conducted
by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission. The final
selection of the standing figure presented by Evans was made
with the advice and assistance of critics having national reputations in the fine arts. The height of the statute is 5.8 meters
(19 feet). It stands in the center of the memorial room upon
a pedestal of black Minnesota granite reaching 1.8 meters
(6 feet) above the floor. The statue of Jefferson, together with
the inscriptions executed in bronze, is in pleasant contrast to
the white Georgia marble of the interior. The four colonnaded openings of the memorial—two on the east-west axis,
and two on the north-south—make it possible to view the
figure from many angles and with varying lights and shadows.
The domed ceiling of Indiana limestone reaches approximately 20 meters (67 feet) above the head of the statue.
From the entrance and the walk along the exterior colonnade, which surrounds the building, you may see some of the
interesting structural detail of the memorial. The exterior
walls and dome of Danby Imperial Vermont marble reach
approximately 29 meters (96 feet) above this level. The
terraces and steps seen below are about 7.6 meters (25 feet)
above the ground. The diameter of the building from this
position is approximately 46 meters (152 feet). From this
walk, you may get a glimpse of the Capitol, the White House,
the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial.
The Four Panels
Engraved on the interior walls of the memorial room are four
inscriptions based upon the writings of Jefferson, describing the chief principles of his beliefs. On the southwest
wall are famous and inspiring phrases from the Declaration of Independence. It is appropriate that these words
should occupy the first position in the sequence. It was
Jefferson's wish that he be remembered first as the author
of this most famed of American documents.
The words of the second inscription embody his principle
of freedom of the mind. It is nowhere better expressed
than in his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom upon
which this inscription is based.
The third engraving, seen on the northeast wall, is devoted
to his ideas on freedom of the body and to his beliefs in the
necessity of educating the masses of the people. Although
his efforts to abolish slavery were not successful, he was
one of the first Americans to argue forcefully the inconsistency of slavery in a democratic state. Jefferson considered
his establishment of the University of Virginia as one of his
outstanding accomplishments. Throughout his entire public
career, he maintained that the general education of the
people was necessary to efficient self-government.
Jefferson's vision in matters of government is demonstrated
by the fourth inscription. By this statement which appeared
in a letter to a friend we know that he recognized the necessity for change in the laws and institutions of a democracy.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights,
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We . . . solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are
and of right ought to be free and independent
states... And for the support of this declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our
fortunes, and our sacred honour.
Almighty God hath created the mind free. All
attempts to influence it by temporal punishments
or burthens . . . are a departure from the plan of
the Holy Author of our religion.... No man
shall be compelled to frequent or support any
religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise
suffer on account of his religious opinions or
belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by
argument to maintain, their opinions in matters
of religion. I know but one code of morality for
men whether acting singly or collectively.
God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the
liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the
gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country
when I reflect that God is just, that his justice
cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master
and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly
written in the book of fate than that these people
are to be free. Establish the law for educating the
common people. This it is the business of the
state to effect and on a general plan.
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in
laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress
of the human mind. As that becomes more
developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries
are made, new truths discovered and manners
and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep
pace with the times. We might as well require a
man to wear still the coat which fitted him when
a boy as civilized society to remain ever under
the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Oriental Flowering Cherry Trees
Thomas Jefferson Memorial appears in its most beautiful
setting in early spring, when the Oriental Flowering Cherry
Trees are in bloom. It is then that the memorial receives
the greatest notice from the public. Although the blossoming of these famous trees, 650 of which encircle the Tidal
Basin, depends upon seasonal conditions, they ordinarily
bloom for 10 to 12 days starting about the first week in
April. During this period, the annual Cherry Blossom
Festival is staged near the Tidal Basin.
The cherry trees were the gift of the city of Tokyo to the
city of Washington. The ceremony of official planting took
place on the north side of the Basin on March 27, 1912,
when Mrs. William Howard Taft, wife of the President of
the United States, planted the first tree, and Viscountess
Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador to the United
States, planted the second tree.
Construction of the Memorial
Provision for building an appropriate permanent memorial to
Thomas Jefferson in the Capital City was made by act of
Congress in 1934 (Public Resolution No. 49, 73rd Cong.,
approved June 26, 1934). The Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Commission, created by this act, was responsible for the
planning and supervision of this great work. John Russell
Pope and the survivors of his firm, Otto R. Eggers and
Daniel P. Higgins, designed the structure. Ground-breaking
ceremonies were held on December 15, 1938, and the
cornerstone was officially laid on November 15, 1939. On
both of these occasions the President of the United States
and the members of the Commission took active part. The
memorial was dedicated on April 13, 1943.
Administration
Thomas Jefferson Memorial is administered by the National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Address
inquiries to the Superintendent, National Capital ParksCentral, 900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20242.
As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has basic responsibilities for water,
fish, wildlife, mineral, land, park, and recreational resources. Indian and Territorial affairs are other major concerns of America's "Department of Natural Resources."
The Department works to assure the wisest choice in
managing all our resources so each will make its full contribution to a better United States—now and in the future.
o
Thomas Jefferson
national park service
u.s. department of the interior
Washington DC
Tom-mobile Service
The National Park Service has concessioner-operated, guided
tourmobiles with unlimited reboarding privileges. Call
638-5371 for rate information.
The Mall and West Potomac Park. Tourmobiles stop at 11
points to discharge and pick up passengers from 9 a.m. to
7 p.m., June through Labor Day; and from 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., the rest of the year.
Arlington National Cemetery. Tourmobiles stop at Arlington House, President Kennedy's Gravesite, Tomb of the
Unknowns, and the visitor center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
April to October; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., November
to March.
• GPO 1988-201-938/60024
Reprint 1980
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